Among Friends
Second: Possession
by Lady Virgo
"The world changes
and those that
refuse this change
fades."
///
Once upon a time there was a brilliant young man born in poverty and brought up as a genius. One day this young man became an old man whose ideological dream for the world twisted into some deranged vision of oppression and total control under the veil of peace. Somewhere along the way he taken six robots that he and his best friend had created and reprogrammed them to follow his orders. But, through a variety of uncalculated factors, his plan failed. So he decided to try again, this time by creating eight robots of his very own. One of these second generation robots was labeled DWN 009: Metal. Despite his strength with blades and strong will, Metal was a very calm, down to earth robot. He looked after his 'siblings' and became a nice counterweight to the energy produced by some of his brothers and a comfortable companion for his equally down to earth lover. However, as time went by, some of their brethren had developed violent and sadistic personalities. And, though he was a powerful robot in his time, he was deemed rather weak in comparison to some of his newer brothers and, after a while, began to get beaten on. And not just beaten, but raped by a certain group of robots whose names were said in either fear or hate. It wasn't because he was considered that weak, he could still hold his own pretty well in the face of danger. It was because his relationships with some of the older robots, many of which were deemed as trouble makers by their creator. Or so the popular thought went among those that even cared. Or didn't care but decided to make a speculation anyway. The other thought was that it was because Metal didn't do anything about it. Maybe it was because he had gotten used to it over the years and decided that it was easier just to get it over with than to struggle. Or maybe it was the fact that he never said anything; out of some twisted sense of loyalty or something of the sort. It made his friends and brothers mad but no matter what anyone did or say, he would never say anything about it at all. His body could be torn up and blood puddling at his feet and if someone asked him if he was okay, he'd stand there with a perfectly straight face and say 'I'm fine'. He had a very strong will, though many would say for the wrong thing. But that was just the kind of guy he was.
It really never went over well with his friends, but he never said anything about it. And that made Elec angry. It made him want to go out and beat someone to a bloody pulp but he never knew who it was that he was supposed to take his anger out on, so he just sat and he stewed. Or he got into the occasional shouting match with Metal. It never ended well for either of them. And what made it worse was the fact that Elec believed, for the most part, that it was his fault. He was, after all, one of the six original, he held a lot of 'political' sway and between Quick's compassion and his own rhetoric, they could probably bring more support back to them and away from Wily and his Enforcers. But Elec had only two weaknesses: Rock and Metal. And Magnet (in theory and honestly not too hard to imagine) had ingeniously rectified the possible insurgence by brutally beating and raping Metal every time Elec tried to make a move to calm the other Robot Masters. The more he tried to do, the worse condition he'd find Metal everyday. When he had stepped down, the beatings had, more or less, stopped. Threats against his most cherished people did not make Elec happy. And the fact that if he did anything would just make things worse for his lover, he'd just run an endless, vicious circle.
And Metal really didn't help things at all.
"How can I just 'calm down' about it?" He seethed, teeth set in a harsh edge.
"It won't help to worry." Metal replied calmly, folding the linen with his back to Elec. The routine had a nice, soothing rhythm to it.
"You're acting like something mundane broke."
"And you're acting like this is a big deal."
Elec snapped. "You think /this/ isn't a big deal!?" He grabbed Metal's arm and spun him around, gripping his face in one tight hand. "Two black eyes and three replaced teeth! How is that /not/ a big deal??"
"It can be easily fixed." Metal said, his tone taking on an aggravated patience as he casually slapped Elec's hand away. "I've gotten worse during training."
"But it's /not/ training." Elec insisted. "The rules state-"
Metal turned on him with narrowed eyes. "So are you going to become an Enforcer now? Just to make sure everyone does what they're supposed to?"
He tensed, almost battle ready. "Of course not! I'm just saying that you shouldn't be going through this!"
"Others go through the same thing just as much as I do. Aren't you going to stand up for them, too?"
"I don't care about the others, I care about /you/."
"I'm not more important than they are."
"You are to me!"
Metal's mouth turned into an ugly sneer. "And this is about you?"
"No! It's about you!"
"Then shouldn't you be worried about what I feel?"
"But you don't feel /anything/!"
He stiffened. "Well /thank/ you for telling me that. I guess I'm just imagining that I have my own free will."
Elec cursed at himself. "Fine." He said with obvious strain. "What /do/ you feel?"
"Hurt."
"See?" He exploded. "That's why something has to be done about-"
"I'm hurt that you don't think I can handle this myself."
That left the older robot flabbergasted for a moment. "B-But," he eventually managed to sputter out, "you haven't done anything about it for years!"
"Neither have you."
"You won't let me!"
"And you know /why/ I won't let you?" Metal looked at Elec with deep, piercing eyes.
"No!"
"And do you know why you don't know?"
"No!" He was reaching his breaking point.
"Because." He marched right up to Elec and emphasized each word by shoving a finger harshly against his chest. "You. Don't. Care."
"D-Don't..... Don't /care/?" He slammed a palm against a tabletop, cracking it slightly. "You don't think I fucking /CARE/!?"
"You don't know, you don't understand, you don't ask, you don't care." He said easily.
"That's because you don't tell me!"
"That's because you don't understand!" Metal shot back, his patience finally cracking. "When you ask, you don't want to hear anything I have to say except for names! When I try to tell how I feel about anything, you always ignore me! Tell me, then, why should I say /anything/ to you?"
Elec's mouth opened, gaping as he tried to grasp for words- /any/ words -to say. "I want to know!"
"/What/ do you want to know?"
"I want to know who did this to you so I can stop them!"
Metal looked at the older robot with a flat look. "Fine. Do what you want." He turned back to the laundry, unfolding a neat pile so he could fold them again. "That's all you ever do."
He tried so hard not to snap, fists bunch at his sides, trembling with frustration. "I can't," he said with an obvious, level tone, "because you won't tell me who they are."
"How about if I give you competely random names? Will that make you feel better?"
"What the fuck are you talking about? How is that suppose to make me feel /better/?!"
"You just want someone to hurt, that's all."
"No it's not!" He lost his last strain of patience. "It's because they hurt /you/!"
With an incredulous look, Metal turned around. "Apparently they didn't do much damage. Do you think that I'd just roll over and let it pass if someone hurt me so much I'd want payback?"
"Apparently you are!"
An eyebrow raised. "Is that so?" He turned back to the laundry, humming to himself. Elec knew what that meant. It meant he'd just been black carded: this conversation is over. Just like all the others.
Fine, if that's how he wanted it... Elec whirled around and stormed out the door.
Metal waited until the door slammed- a talent only Elec seemed to have with an automatic door -and the furious stomping faded before he turned to his door and took out his partially full fifth.
~*~*~*~
It wasn't an easy few years getting back into Skull Fortress, no one trusted him and the Enforcers followed him- as best they could -for a majority of that time. But Wily had given him a bit of leeway once he had produced plans for him. Shadow smiled to himself.
Forte was the key to Blues' downfall, just as he had figured. Just not the way that Wily wanted him to be. Though the punishment for 'tricking' him, as the old man put it, was severe, Shadow had to admit that it was pretty fun. He was beginning to see why Blues like being a reaccuring problem.
But he frowned, hearing the following footsteps behind him. Another Enforcer, most likely, making sure he kept within his 'probation'. While choke chips kept the other Robot Masters from exiting the compound for a limited time around a surrounding area, Shadow's kept him away from the outer areas all together. He was unauthorized to work on any classified projects or allowed into any branch that held information greater than unclassified. And, in accordance with the Enforcers' own rule, he was not allowed to be near Quick.
"If you want us to leave him alone," Pharaoh said with that conceited smirk on his face, "you stay away from him. I don't care what you have to say or do to him, but we better not catch you getting close to him."
Of course, Shadow scowled to himself, because everytime he pushed Quick away, it hurt the older robot, caused him to focus less on being the troublemaker he was labeled. It also hurt Shadow and kept him from being a pain to anyone else. Emotion, a double-edged sword he tried so hard to keep away from, but the distance only made the wound bleed more.
And it's not like he entirely meant to break his end of the deal. Well, maybe a little, but he'd be damned sure he wasn't going to get caught. He just couldn't help himself, something about Quick drew him, pulled at the edge of his mind. He was certain that he was becoming obsessed. During the nights, he began to get this insane urge to see him, an urge that just grew stronger and more persistant over time no matter what he did. Even sneaking out of his room and into Quick's didn't qwell the feeling and it was becoming a struggle to keep from following him during the day.
While he stayed in Quick's room, he never did anything more than watch, he just couldn't stay away. If the Enforcers ever caught him ('if' indeed, hah!) he would be severely punished. And what they'd do to Quick... it made his blood run cold just thinking of him being punished because of him.
But last night.... oh God, last night....
He couldn't believe how stupid he was. Standing there, in the dark of Quick's room, an insane urge pressured his mind and he didn't fight it. He kissed him.
Nothing spectacular or incredibly romantic, just went over to Quick's side and watch him for a moment. Then, reaching down, Shadow picked up his hand. And kissed it. No thought, just a kiss.
And when he looked up, Quick's eyes were open.
"Shadow...." he whispered, smiling in a way that Shadow's chest clench. "I missed you..."
He froze, he couldn't do anything captured by those eyes. Then, Quick chuckled and closed his eyes, a smile as he slept, hand squeezing Shadow's tightly. Sometime during the night, Shadow found the strength to pull his hand away from Quick's and return to his own quarters before anyone else woke up.
And then the next morning. If Shadow could disable himself, he would've the moment he said those words to Quick...
"What does it take to get through to you? You're annoying, you're clingy. Nothing you could ever say or do could make me care about you."
At that moment, he really wanted to kill himself, but even death seemed too good for him.
Of course, the next problem was to come: Ring. When it came to Quick, anything Shadow did was wrong. And anytime he did anything, Ring would always confront him.
And this was one of their worst, yet.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Ring had sneered at him. They were standing in middle of a corridor leading to the back entrace of the main compound. No one else was anywhere near them.
Shadow looked at him calmly.
"Stop that!" Ring's shoulders tensed, fist tight as bone. "Don't give me that shit and answer me!"
"What do you want?" Came the soft reply.
"Why the fuck do you keep doing this to Quick? Do you just not /get/ the fact that you're hurting him? Or is that your entire purpose?"
Shadow turned away. "You wouldn't understand."
"Like this makes any goddamn sense, right." Ring's voice grew louder. "He fucking /loves/ you, you know. Even after all this, he won't give you up no matter what anyone says and you keep treating him like shit."
Shadow didn't say anything, just waited until Ring said his piece.
"I can't stand you. I hate your fucking guts and I'd love to see you torn to pieces." He went back down to a growl. "I don't know why he keeps hanging on you, you're not worth one rusted bolt you were built with."
Annoyed, the other turned around. "Are you finished? I have better things to do than listen to your whinning."
"Fuck you, Shadow. It doesn't matter anymore." He stood up, pointing a finger in Shadow's direction as if he were issuing a challenge. "I'm taking Quick from you. I'll make it so he hates you, so he can't stand looking at you. If it's that last thing I do, I'll have Quick hurt you as much as you have him."
His eyes brightened a bit, glaring. Threats didn't go well with Shadow, especially about things he did, deep down, care about. "Don't do anything you'll regret. Ring."
"Regret? Feh. I'd pound your goddam face into the ground if I had the chance."
Before he knew it, Shadow had covered the distance between them, snarling in his face. "Stay away from Quick."
"Or what?"
"I'll rip your head off."
Ring's blood pistoned through his body. "No. Because I'll gut your sorry ass, first."
~*~*~*~
There was only one thing that Pharaoh did not like about being the leader of the Enforcers. He had to do everything he made the others do. It wasn't like he'd go and have them do some bull shit task he'd never have done himself, he just got annoyed having to do some of them.
A week of 12 on/12 off was one of them. It meant that for the next week, he stayed up 12 hours, from six at night till six in the morning ensuring everything was running smoothly in the Fortress while Magnet took care of the regular work. So, to begin this week of boring, bothersome watch, directly after afternoon practice, he went to take a nap until his shift started.
"Pharaoh. Pharaoh, we have a situation."
The voice dragged him from the edge of his nap. With a small groan, he scrunched his head underneath his pillow.
"Pharaoh, answer me, are you there?"
Maybe it'll go away...
"Pharaoh!"
Ah, fuck it. "What?" His muffled voice groggily answered, head still under the pillow.
In the security center, Centaur rolled his eyes. Of course Pharaoh would be in the last place he looked. Actually in his own room...
"We have a situation."
"It better be a fucking invasion of robot eating aliens."
"There's a fight going on in corridor Echo-nine-er."
"So what?" He snapped. "Big deal."
Centaur's voice took on a concerned tone. "But no one's doing anything about it!"
"Of course they are. They're taking bets." He curled up in his covers, trying to recapture some sleep.
"Pharaoh." The voice took a more demanding tone. "It's Shadow and Ring."
There was a pause. Then an exasperated sigh came from the pillow. "Christ... All right, all right. I'll be there."
~*~*~*~
Shadow wasn't a very peculiar robot because he liked his space, many of the other Robot Masters did, too. The only thing was, Shadow also liked his space while he was fighting. Especially against someone with a fighting style like Ring's: adept at not just both long and short ranged attacks, but able to use a long-ranged weapon in a closed in environment. And being sleep deprived for weeks didn't much help the situation, either. For the most part, their fight seemed like a draw, but as fatigue began to catch up with him, it looked like Ring would come out the winner.
For his part, Ring had another major advantage: when Blues retarded his Surge, he changed the formula in his blueprints. So while Shadow could very rarely become emursed in Surge, Dr. Cossack didn't put such a limitation on any of his creations. Consumed by rage and hate, Ring's only focus was to kill Shadow. Shadow's was to stay alive. And they both drew a large crowd.
By the time Centaur had alerted Pharaoh to the fight, both were exhausted by the fight, but unwilling to conceed the victory. They were less than ten yards apart, trying to catch their breath before the next move, bleeding and bruised, exposed and severed circuits and wires crackling. Rings right arm was useless, his left holding his weapon. Shadow crouched, the wound at his side hindering his maneuverablity greatly. The other Robot Masters cheered, waiting far too long for a good fight, bets swapping, the pot growing larger as the battle stretched.
At a hiden signal, the two Robot Masters shot forward. Ring drew his arm back, flinging the projectile at his adversary, the round boomerang curving through the air. Shadow planted his feet, springing at one of the walls, evading the ring and he twisted, pinning it to the opposite wall with one of his throwing stars. The crowd hushed and then went up in another round of cheering as the two still charged at each other. Then they immeadetly fell silent.
Shadow had drawn his sword during his charge, whipping it forward with the intent to run Ring through. But before he reached his mark, a gold and black blur appeared in his path. He grabbed Shadow's wrist, holding it high in the air, making the short bioroid choke back a cry as the wound at his side stretched and tore. Pharaoh looked down on him with merciless eyes.
"I hope," he said calmly, "that you're finished." He turned to look at Ring. "Are you?"
"This has nothing to do with you, Pharaoh." His brother growled, annoyed at the interference.
"Doesn't it? Is it not my duty to ensure that everyone doesn't go around killing each other in the halls?"
"Let go." Shadow hissed. Pharaoh gazed cooly down at again.
"I'll deal with you later." He promised before dropping the slender wrist. He then turned to the crowd. "I suggest everyone leaves." He gave them a golden glare. "Now."
They muttered, shuffling away slowly, wanting to see what would happen next. His attention was caught by Snake and Hard, trying to help Skull- the instigator of the betting pool -carry their earnings away.
"Don't think you three are going to get off that easy." He told their backs. They froze momentarily before, slowly, they looked over their shoulder and gave him guilty grins. There were still stragglers, but most of the audience had left. Rolling his eyes, he looked at the two combatants. "Now, I assume there's a relatively good reason for this."
Neither bioroids said anything, just looked away.
"...." He frowned behind his helmet. "Che. Both you, always having to make everything difficult." He growled. "Shadow, stop leaking fluids all over the floor."
"Can't really help it." Came the terse reply.
"No, I suppose you can't..." he looked over to Ring, scanning the damage. "Christ, Ring, you keep swinging that arm around, you'll have to get it completely replaced. Get to Med Bay. And take Shadow with."
He narrowed orange eyes. "Why?"
"You broke him, you fix him."
"I don't care if he keels over from blood loss right now. What makes you think I'd help him?"
"Forget it." Shadow snarled. "I can take care of myself." He turned and stormed off, dissappearing into the remaining crowd.
Pharaoh turned to Ring expectantly, the other sulked a bit under the gaze. He left wordlessly, cradling his disabled arm. As he walked through the crowd, he saw Quick's anguished face before he turned and vanished.
by Lady Virgo
"The world changes
and those that
refuse this change
fades."
///
Once upon a time there was a brilliant young man born in poverty and brought up as a genius. One day this young man became an old man whose ideological dream for the world twisted into some deranged vision of oppression and total control under the veil of peace. Somewhere along the way he taken six robots that he and his best friend had created and reprogrammed them to follow his orders. But, through a variety of uncalculated factors, his plan failed. So he decided to try again, this time by creating eight robots of his very own. One of these second generation robots was labeled DWN 009: Metal. Despite his strength with blades and strong will, Metal was a very calm, down to earth robot. He looked after his 'siblings' and became a nice counterweight to the energy produced by some of his brothers and a comfortable companion for his equally down to earth lover. However, as time went by, some of their brethren had developed violent and sadistic personalities. And, though he was a powerful robot in his time, he was deemed rather weak in comparison to some of his newer brothers and, after a while, began to get beaten on. And not just beaten, but raped by a certain group of robots whose names were said in either fear or hate. It wasn't because he was considered that weak, he could still hold his own pretty well in the face of danger. It was because his relationships with some of the older robots, many of which were deemed as trouble makers by their creator. Or so the popular thought went among those that even cared. Or didn't care but decided to make a speculation anyway. The other thought was that it was because Metal didn't do anything about it. Maybe it was because he had gotten used to it over the years and decided that it was easier just to get it over with than to struggle. Or maybe it was the fact that he never said anything; out of some twisted sense of loyalty or something of the sort. It made his friends and brothers mad but no matter what anyone did or say, he would never say anything about it at all. His body could be torn up and blood puddling at his feet and if someone asked him if he was okay, he'd stand there with a perfectly straight face and say 'I'm fine'. He had a very strong will, though many would say for the wrong thing. But that was just the kind of guy he was.
It really never went over well with his friends, but he never said anything about it. And that made Elec angry. It made him want to go out and beat someone to a bloody pulp but he never knew who it was that he was supposed to take his anger out on, so he just sat and he stewed. Or he got into the occasional shouting match with Metal. It never ended well for either of them. And what made it worse was the fact that Elec believed, for the most part, that it was his fault. He was, after all, one of the six original, he held a lot of 'political' sway and between Quick's compassion and his own rhetoric, they could probably bring more support back to them and away from Wily and his Enforcers. But Elec had only two weaknesses: Rock and Metal. And Magnet (in theory and honestly not too hard to imagine) had ingeniously rectified the possible insurgence by brutally beating and raping Metal every time Elec tried to make a move to calm the other Robot Masters. The more he tried to do, the worse condition he'd find Metal everyday. When he had stepped down, the beatings had, more or less, stopped. Threats against his most cherished people did not make Elec happy. And the fact that if he did anything would just make things worse for his lover, he'd just run an endless, vicious circle.
And Metal really didn't help things at all.
"How can I just 'calm down' about it?" He seethed, teeth set in a harsh edge.
"It won't help to worry." Metal replied calmly, folding the linen with his back to Elec. The routine had a nice, soothing rhythm to it.
"You're acting like something mundane broke."
"And you're acting like this is a big deal."
Elec snapped. "You think /this/ isn't a big deal!?" He grabbed Metal's arm and spun him around, gripping his face in one tight hand. "Two black eyes and three replaced teeth! How is that /not/ a big deal??"
"It can be easily fixed." Metal said, his tone taking on an aggravated patience as he casually slapped Elec's hand away. "I've gotten worse during training."
"But it's /not/ training." Elec insisted. "The rules state-"
Metal turned on him with narrowed eyes. "So are you going to become an Enforcer now? Just to make sure everyone does what they're supposed to?"
He tensed, almost battle ready. "Of course not! I'm just saying that you shouldn't be going through this!"
"Others go through the same thing just as much as I do. Aren't you going to stand up for them, too?"
"I don't care about the others, I care about /you/."
"I'm not more important than they are."
"You are to me!"
Metal's mouth turned into an ugly sneer. "And this is about you?"
"No! It's about you!"
"Then shouldn't you be worried about what I feel?"
"But you don't feel /anything/!"
He stiffened. "Well /thank/ you for telling me that. I guess I'm just imagining that I have my own free will."
Elec cursed at himself. "Fine." He said with obvious strain. "What /do/ you feel?"
"Hurt."
"See?" He exploded. "That's why something has to be done about-"
"I'm hurt that you don't think I can handle this myself."
That left the older robot flabbergasted for a moment. "B-But," he eventually managed to sputter out, "you haven't done anything about it for years!"
"Neither have you."
"You won't let me!"
"And you know /why/ I won't let you?" Metal looked at Elec with deep, piercing eyes.
"No!"
"And do you know why you don't know?"
"No!" He was reaching his breaking point.
"Because." He marched right up to Elec and emphasized each word by shoving a finger harshly against his chest. "You. Don't. Care."
"D-Don't..... Don't /care/?" He slammed a palm against a tabletop, cracking it slightly. "You don't think I fucking /CARE/!?"
"You don't know, you don't understand, you don't ask, you don't care." He said easily.
"That's because you don't tell me!"
"That's because you don't understand!" Metal shot back, his patience finally cracking. "When you ask, you don't want to hear anything I have to say except for names! When I try to tell how I feel about anything, you always ignore me! Tell me, then, why should I say /anything/ to you?"
Elec's mouth opened, gaping as he tried to grasp for words- /any/ words -to say. "I want to know!"
"/What/ do you want to know?"
"I want to know who did this to you so I can stop them!"
Metal looked at the older robot with a flat look. "Fine. Do what you want." He turned back to the laundry, unfolding a neat pile so he could fold them again. "That's all you ever do."
He tried so hard not to snap, fists bunch at his sides, trembling with frustration. "I can't," he said with an obvious, level tone, "because you won't tell me who they are."
"How about if I give you competely random names? Will that make you feel better?"
"What the fuck are you talking about? How is that suppose to make me feel /better/?!"
"You just want someone to hurt, that's all."
"No it's not!" He lost his last strain of patience. "It's because they hurt /you/!"
With an incredulous look, Metal turned around. "Apparently they didn't do much damage. Do you think that I'd just roll over and let it pass if someone hurt me so much I'd want payback?"
"Apparently you are!"
An eyebrow raised. "Is that so?" He turned back to the laundry, humming to himself. Elec knew what that meant. It meant he'd just been black carded: this conversation is over. Just like all the others.
Fine, if that's how he wanted it... Elec whirled around and stormed out the door.
Metal waited until the door slammed- a talent only Elec seemed to have with an automatic door -and the furious stomping faded before he turned to his door and took out his partially full fifth.
~*~*~*~
It wasn't an easy few years getting back into Skull Fortress, no one trusted him and the Enforcers followed him- as best they could -for a majority of that time. But Wily had given him a bit of leeway once he had produced plans for him. Shadow smiled to himself.
Forte was the key to Blues' downfall, just as he had figured. Just not the way that Wily wanted him to be. Though the punishment for 'tricking' him, as the old man put it, was severe, Shadow had to admit that it was pretty fun. He was beginning to see why Blues like being a reaccuring problem.
But he frowned, hearing the following footsteps behind him. Another Enforcer, most likely, making sure he kept within his 'probation'. While choke chips kept the other Robot Masters from exiting the compound for a limited time around a surrounding area, Shadow's kept him away from the outer areas all together. He was unauthorized to work on any classified projects or allowed into any branch that held information greater than unclassified. And, in accordance with the Enforcers' own rule, he was not allowed to be near Quick.
"If you want us to leave him alone," Pharaoh said with that conceited smirk on his face, "you stay away from him. I don't care what you have to say or do to him, but we better not catch you getting close to him."
Of course, Shadow scowled to himself, because everytime he pushed Quick away, it hurt the older robot, caused him to focus less on being the troublemaker he was labeled. It also hurt Shadow and kept him from being a pain to anyone else. Emotion, a double-edged sword he tried so hard to keep away from, but the distance only made the wound bleed more.
And it's not like he entirely meant to break his end of the deal. Well, maybe a little, but he'd be damned sure he wasn't going to get caught. He just couldn't help himself, something about Quick drew him, pulled at the edge of his mind. He was certain that he was becoming obsessed. During the nights, he began to get this insane urge to see him, an urge that just grew stronger and more persistant over time no matter what he did. Even sneaking out of his room and into Quick's didn't qwell the feeling and it was becoming a struggle to keep from following him during the day.
While he stayed in Quick's room, he never did anything more than watch, he just couldn't stay away. If the Enforcers ever caught him ('if' indeed, hah!) he would be severely punished. And what they'd do to Quick... it made his blood run cold just thinking of him being punished because of him.
But last night.... oh God, last night....
He couldn't believe how stupid he was. Standing there, in the dark of Quick's room, an insane urge pressured his mind and he didn't fight it. He kissed him.
Nothing spectacular or incredibly romantic, just went over to Quick's side and watch him for a moment. Then, reaching down, Shadow picked up his hand. And kissed it. No thought, just a kiss.
And when he looked up, Quick's eyes were open.
"Shadow...." he whispered, smiling in a way that Shadow's chest clench. "I missed you..."
He froze, he couldn't do anything captured by those eyes. Then, Quick chuckled and closed his eyes, a smile as he slept, hand squeezing Shadow's tightly. Sometime during the night, Shadow found the strength to pull his hand away from Quick's and return to his own quarters before anyone else woke up.
And then the next morning. If Shadow could disable himself, he would've the moment he said those words to Quick...
"What does it take to get through to you? You're annoying, you're clingy. Nothing you could ever say or do could make me care about you."
At that moment, he really wanted to kill himself, but even death seemed too good for him.
Of course, the next problem was to come: Ring. When it came to Quick, anything Shadow did was wrong. And anytime he did anything, Ring would always confront him.
And this was one of their worst, yet.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Ring had sneered at him. They were standing in middle of a corridor leading to the back entrace of the main compound. No one else was anywhere near them.
Shadow looked at him calmly.
"Stop that!" Ring's shoulders tensed, fist tight as bone. "Don't give me that shit and answer me!"
"What do you want?" Came the soft reply.
"Why the fuck do you keep doing this to Quick? Do you just not /get/ the fact that you're hurting him? Or is that your entire purpose?"
Shadow turned away. "You wouldn't understand."
"Like this makes any goddamn sense, right." Ring's voice grew louder. "He fucking /loves/ you, you know. Even after all this, he won't give you up no matter what anyone says and you keep treating him like shit."
Shadow didn't say anything, just waited until Ring said his piece.
"I can't stand you. I hate your fucking guts and I'd love to see you torn to pieces." He went back down to a growl. "I don't know why he keeps hanging on you, you're not worth one rusted bolt you were built with."
Annoyed, the other turned around. "Are you finished? I have better things to do than listen to your whinning."
"Fuck you, Shadow. It doesn't matter anymore." He stood up, pointing a finger in Shadow's direction as if he were issuing a challenge. "I'm taking Quick from you. I'll make it so he hates you, so he can't stand looking at you. If it's that last thing I do, I'll have Quick hurt you as much as you have him."
His eyes brightened a bit, glaring. Threats didn't go well with Shadow, especially about things he did, deep down, care about. "Don't do anything you'll regret. Ring."
"Regret? Feh. I'd pound your goddam face into the ground if I had the chance."
Before he knew it, Shadow had covered the distance between them, snarling in his face. "Stay away from Quick."
"Or what?"
"I'll rip your head off."
Ring's blood pistoned through his body. "No. Because I'll gut your sorry ass, first."
~*~*~*~
There was only one thing that Pharaoh did not like about being the leader of the Enforcers. He had to do everything he made the others do. It wasn't like he'd go and have them do some bull shit task he'd never have done himself, he just got annoyed having to do some of them.
A week of 12 on/12 off was one of them. It meant that for the next week, he stayed up 12 hours, from six at night till six in the morning ensuring everything was running smoothly in the Fortress while Magnet took care of the regular work. So, to begin this week of boring, bothersome watch, directly after afternoon practice, he went to take a nap until his shift started.
"Pharaoh. Pharaoh, we have a situation."
The voice dragged him from the edge of his nap. With a small groan, he scrunched his head underneath his pillow.
"Pharaoh, answer me, are you there?"
Maybe it'll go away...
"Pharaoh!"
Ah, fuck it. "What?" His muffled voice groggily answered, head still under the pillow.
In the security center, Centaur rolled his eyes. Of course Pharaoh would be in the last place he looked. Actually in his own room...
"We have a situation."
"It better be a fucking invasion of robot eating aliens."
"There's a fight going on in corridor Echo-nine-er."
"So what?" He snapped. "Big deal."
Centaur's voice took on a concerned tone. "But no one's doing anything about it!"
"Of course they are. They're taking bets." He curled up in his covers, trying to recapture some sleep.
"Pharaoh." The voice took a more demanding tone. "It's Shadow and Ring."
There was a pause. Then an exasperated sigh came from the pillow. "Christ... All right, all right. I'll be there."
~*~*~*~
Shadow wasn't a very peculiar robot because he liked his space, many of the other Robot Masters did, too. The only thing was, Shadow also liked his space while he was fighting. Especially against someone with a fighting style like Ring's: adept at not just both long and short ranged attacks, but able to use a long-ranged weapon in a closed in environment. And being sleep deprived for weeks didn't much help the situation, either. For the most part, their fight seemed like a draw, but as fatigue began to catch up with him, it looked like Ring would come out the winner.
For his part, Ring had another major advantage: when Blues retarded his Surge, he changed the formula in his blueprints. So while Shadow could very rarely become emursed in Surge, Dr. Cossack didn't put such a limitation on any of his creations. Consumed by rage and hate, Ring's only focus was to kill Shadow. Shadow's was to stay alive. And they both drew a large crowd.
By the time Centaur had alerted Pharaoh to the fight, both were exhausted by the fight, but unwilling to conceed the victory. They were less than ten yards apart, trying to catch their breath before the next move, bleeding and bruised, exposed and severed circuits and wires crackling. Rings right arm was useless, his left holding his weapon. Shadow crouched, the wound at his side hindering his maneuverablity greatly. The other Robot Masters cheered, waiting far too long for a good fight, bets swapping, the pot growing larger as the battle stretched.
At a hiden signal, the two Robot Masters shot forward. Ring drew his arm back, flinging the projectile at his adversary, the round boomerang curving through the air. Shadow planted his feet, springing at one of the walls, evading the ring and he twisted, pinning it to the opposite wall with one of his throwing stars. The crowd hushed and then went up in another round of cheering as the two still charged at each other. Then they immeadetly fell silent.
Shadow had drawn his sword during his charge, whipping it forward with the intent to run Ring through. But before he reached his mark, a gold and black blur appeared in his path. He grabbed Shadow's wrist, holding it high in the air, making the short bioroid choke back a cry as the wound at his side stretched and tore. Pharaoh looked down on him with merciless eyes.
"I hope," he said calmly, "that you're finished." He turned to look at Ring. "Are you?"
"This has nothing to do with you, Pharaoh." His brother growled, annoyed at the interference.
"Doesn't it? Is it not my duty to ensure that everyone doesn't go around killing each other in the halls?"
"Let go." Shadow hissed. Pharaoh gazed cooly down at again.
"I'll deal with you later." He promised before dropping the slender wrist. He then turned to the crowd. "I suggest everyone leaves." He gave them a golden glare. "Now."
They muttered, shuffling away slowly, wanting to see what would happen next. His attention was caught by Snake and Hard, trying to help Skull- the instigator of the betting pool -carry their earnings away.
"Don't think you three are going to get off that easy." He told their backs. They froze momentarily before, slowly, they looked over their shoulder and gave him guilty grins. There were still stragglers, but most of the audience had left. Rolling his eyes, he looked at the two combatants. "Now, I assume there's a relatively good reason for this."
Neither bioroids said anything, just looked away.
"...." He frowned behind his helmet. "Che. Both you, always having to make everything difficult." He growled. "Shadow, stop leaking fluids all over the floor."
"Can't really help it." Came the terse reply.
"No, I suppose you can't..." he looked over to Ring, scanning the damage. "Christ, Ring, you keep swinging that arm around, you'll have to get it completely replaced. Get to Med Bay. And take Shadow with."
He narrowed orange eyes. "Why?"
"You broke him, you fix him."
"I don't care if he keels over from blood loss right now. What makes you think I'd help him?"
"Forget it." Shadow snarled. "I can take care of myself." He turned and stormed off, dissappearing into the remaining crowd.
Pharaoh turned to Ring expectantly, the other sulked a bit under the gaze. He left wordlessly, cradling his disabled arm. As he walked through the crowd, he saw Quick's anguished face before he turned and vanished.